New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that short-term travel from Australia to Sri Lanka has increased significantly over the past 12 months, highlighting the island’s growing popularity among Australian residents.
Between June 2025 and May 2026, Australian residents made 139,440 short-term trips to Sri Lanka before returning to Australia. This marks a 14 per cent increase from the 122,340 trips recorded during the same period a year earlier—an increase of 17,100 travel movements.
The highest monthly total was recorded in January 2026, when 22,910 short-term trips were made. The second-highest figure came in April 2026 with 14,080 trips, while May 2026 recorded 9,230 trips.
Monthly travel figures were:
June 2025 – 7,820
July – 11,900
August – 10,600
September – 10,220
October – 11,350
November – 9,570
December – 9,340
January 2026 – 22,910
February – 11,220
March – 11,200
April – 14,080
May – 9,230
The increase suggests Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its appeal as a destination for Australian residents, thanks to its beaches, natural beauty, wildlife, cultural heritage, cuisine, and visits to family and friends.
However, the ABS notes that these figures do not represent holidaymakers alone. The data includes all short-term travel movements by Australian residents who identified Sri Lanka as their main destination, covering holidays, business travel, and family visits. The statistics measure travel movements rather than individual travellers, meaning the same person may be counted more than once if they travelled multiple times.
